"Carbon Foot Print" of a Large Family

I've been hearing over and over again about the carbon foot print of a person. Some environmentalists attack large families and call for fewer children to be born in order to decrease this "carbon foot print". Some large families may have a larger foot print per person than smaller families, but I don't see that is the norm. Here is my proof:

Traditionally the more children you have the less money you can afford to spend on each child. This leads to some frugal and yet environmentally friendly behaviors. Here are just a few examples:

*hand-me-down clothes and shoes

*clothe diapers

* the use of reusable plates and cups instead of buying paper or plastic

* not buying individually wrapped grocery items and instead buying in bulk

* not eating out in restaurants (this saves on Styrofoam, plastic utensils, and paper products)

* having three or four children bath together

* All laundry loads are large loads (saves water and electricity)

* using wood burning stoves for heat (because there are enough hands to cut and carry wood)

* large garden to supply veggies (this saves on cost and the amount of cans a family buys)

*Canning ones own veggies and reusing glass jars

*Having a compost pile

*Raising chickens for eggs and then butchering for meat

*Eating up all left overs (with that many mouths to feed someone is going to eat it!)

*All sharing the same TV, radio, DVD player, CD player means less electricity per person

*the use of one vehicle to move 10 people means less gas per person

*make own laundry soap (less plastic containers and waste as well as harmful chemicals) *reusing bikes, scooters and toys

*reusing large yogurt, butter, and other plastic containers before recycling them

*recycling aluminum cans for extra cash

These are just some of the few ways that my family is being "environmentally friendly" just by being frugal. So to all the nay-sayers and environmental whack jobs trying to control the population, back off! My family is doing our part just by being frugal!

Update on Easter week and Divine Mercy Sunday

It's been over a week since I posted anything and for good reasons. We've been crazy busy with school work, celebrating Easter week, bed shopping, doctor visits, the Divine Mercy novena, a women's conference, a visit from Aunt Susan, and a First Communion Mass. What a busy week. Overall, a very blessed week, with a few worst moments of all time thrown in there.

Since Aunt Susan was coming for a visit, we crammed nearly a whole week's worth of school work into two days, but it was worth it so that the kids could spend more time with their aunt. We celebrated Easter week by attending Mass nearly everyday. (The only Mass celebrated on Mondays around here is at noon and about a 30 minute drive away. We were so wiped out from the weekend excitement that it became apparent that Mass was not an option that late in the day.)

While Aunt Susan was in town she watched the kids quite a bit for me. What a blessing that was! I was able to get the oil changed in the van, go grocery shopping ALONE, and shop for a new bed with dear hubby! We found an incredible deal on our bed because we were willing to take the floor model that had only been there about 5 months. It was TemperPedic and we saved over $1,000! All we had to do was wash the cover! Well worth the savings. Aunt Susan also watched the kids while I had my O.B. appointment. The ultrasound is set for Wednesday and the kids are so excited to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. Of course, they are all hoping for a boy, but mostly for a healthy baby.

Saturday, I attended a Women's Conference with some 500 other women. It was refreshing to here some really holy priests and lay women speak. I was encouraged and challenged at the same time. It was a very long day, but well worth it.

I was able to finish the Divine Mercy novena again this year and feel so grace filled and at peace now that it is over. On Divine Mercy Sunday, I was not able to go to a Divine Mercy service because my Faith Formation class made their First Holy Communion that afternoon. What a privilege to know that I had some small part in helping to form their understanding of our Lord in the Eucharist! The kids were very well behaved and did a great job with all the Mass readings and songs.

Unrelated to the First Communion kids, I had some really bad moments when I exchanged words with our priest and the pastoral associate about some liturgical "enhancements" (as they called them) for the Mass. Enough about that, though. But prayer on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks.

BIG NEWS!!!!

Two pieces of big news today.

The first is the addition of a 100 year old piano. A wonderful Catholic friend was looking to get rid of his piano and after a little prayer and thought we came to mind. I am very grateful. We've been looking into getting a piano, but even used ones are very expensive. Piano's aren't as easy to bargain hunt for as clothes or food.

I could not neglect to also thank my dear husband and a friend of ours from church. They literally pick-up the piano in Illinois after a men's retreat and drove it home late last night. Today the piano made its final journey into our school room with the help of a few guys from church. I am sure it will have many hours of use. Thank you Larry, Reid, James, Dub, and Dear Hubby! The kids will hopefully be learning more than just banging on the piano very soon. I am almost sick of the banging already!

Now for the second addition...

WE ARE EXPECTING BABY #6 IN SEPTEMBER!

After Mass this morning, we took the kids to a local restaurant to tell them the good news and celebrate. They were all very happy, when they realized what we meant. Dear hubby told them, "You have a new brother or sister". Only our oldest understood what he meant. I had to add, "I am pregnant and in September we'll be able to meet the new baby." My son's jaw dropped when he finally understood and he was ecstatic! He has been very diligent about praying for a little brother for a long time now.

We had to remind them that God knows if we need another boy or a girl. God will give us what we need, but not always what we want. My oldest daughter quickly stated, "We'll love the baby whether it is a boy or a girl!" Of course my son agreed, but you could tell he is still praying for a brother.

The pregnancy has been going well so far, but I am a lot more nauseous and tired with this pregnancy than most. (I guess I am getting old!) That seems to be fueling my husband's hopes that it is a boy. I am just hoping that it is not twins. I don't think I could handle twins with five older kids already. We should be able to find out the sex of the baby sometime in late April around our 10th wedding anniversary. When we know, you'll know. I would appreciate your prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy. Thanks and God bless you and yours.

Shopping For Christmas:

This year I am doing way more shopping online than ever before. I did a little the other day with Wal-mart's site to store deal. I now have my four nephews and four nieces marked off my list. Yeah!!! My favorite site right now is Land's End. Hear me out! Before you get ahead of your self, and think I am spending a fortune, just listen. They have been holding a St. Nick pick each day. It just so happened that the day I was shopping for a coat and boots for myself. They had a style from last year on clearance in the overstock department and then it was on sale that day. I also had a promotional code that made the shipping free. I was able to search through the overstocks and find the kids some really high quality shoes for the same price (if not cheaper) than I could find at Wal-mart! I was so happy! God had answered my prayers. I really had been stressing about how we were going to get the kids new shoes, since our clothing budget has been shot for the past two-three months.
Today, I received my coat, my boots, and the kids' shoes in the mail. I am really impressed with the quality. Land's End also sent along another promotion code to get $20 off my next order. Little did I know that the exact boots I was going to order for the kids are on sale today, $6.50 less than if I would have ordered the other day. And on top of that I will be getting the $20.00 off! I love that site. You have to check out their overstocks if you are looking to find a great deal. Happy hunting!